During the past few months many in our communities have experienced shortages of access to such items as toilet paper, flour, yeast, and cleaning supplies.聽 Some people in our communities have experienced much more serious difficulties and will continue to face a higher degree of challenges, even as our province re-opens.
When the basics of life such as shelter, food, employment, or social isolation are already a person鈥檚 most pressing daily concern, being subjected to further isolation or closure of places where supports are obtained is devastating. Charities in our communities are working hard to fill the gaps.
Yorkton & District Community Foundation (YDCF)聽 has created the Yorkton & District Emergency Fund to receive donations from people who would like to help.
鈥淟ocal charities are uniquely positioned to identify needs in our communities,鈥� says Sharon Tropin, president of the YDCF. 鈥淣eeds that most of us can鈥檛 see.鈥�
The community foundation reached out to hear what charities are experiencing.
Access to masks and other personal protective equipment, access to support for homebound seniors, parents and caregivers, moving programming on-line and lack of technology and wifi to reach clients, the need for healthy activities for youth that meet social distancing guidelines, are just a few of the areas of concern. Charities are being innovative as they address new access issues created by the pandemic.
Donations to the Yorkton & District Emergency Fund will be quickly directed to assist local charities in this work.
Additionally, the YDCF is receiving donations and has brought together several community partners to provide masks to seniors living in Sask Housing Authority properties. More information about the PPE (Masks) Project will be available soon.
Tropin says that when the YDCF launched in October of 2019, the initial objective was to build endowment funds to support improvements to the community, now and long into the future.
鈥淎s the COVID-19 pandemic gripped the world and began to change priorities, the聽 YDCF Board saw the need for a local emergency fund, in addition to the legacy of resources that endowment funds can provide a community鈥�, says Tropin.鈥�
Information about endowment funds, and activities to assist the community during and after the pandemic can be found on the Yorkton and District Community Foundation website and Facebook page.
